Elaine Feldman facts for kids

Elaine Feldman (born March 31, 1916 – died October 19, 2006) was an important Irish person. She helped start the very first high school for the Jewish community in Dublin. She was known for her dedication to education and community work.

Elaine's Early Life and Family

Elaine Feldman was born Elaine Freeman in Dublin, Ireland, on March 31, 1916. She was the second child of Maurice and Ada Freeman. Her father had businesses, and her mother volunteered at the local Jewish school. She taught young Jewish children about their religion.

School Days and First Job

Like many other Jewish children, Elaine went to Wesley College. This was a Protestant school that understood the needs of Jewish students. When she was 14, Elaine became the first day-girl prefect. She noticed that day girls had no supervision during lunch.

Elaine earned a scholarship to Trinity College Dublin. But instead of going to college, she started working for the government in 1934. She first worked in the Department of Finance. Later, during a time called the Emergency, she worked in the Department of Defence. People were often surprised to see her riding her bicycle to Dublin Castle.

Marriage and Family Life

Elaine married Jacob 'Jack' Feldman on March 31, 1941. He was a traveling salesperson and later owned a shop. At that time, women often had to quit their jobs when they got married. Because of this rule, Elaine had to leave her government job. Elaine and Jack had two sons, Maurice and Alec, and one daughter, Estelle.

Starting Stratford College

When Elaine's children were ready for high school, she and her husband were worried. There were not many good choices for Jewish children. Protestant schools had limited space. They also wanted their children to learn about their Jewish heritage.

A New School for Jewish Students

In 1952, Elaine was part of a small meeting at the home of Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobvits. This meeting led to the creation of Ireland's first Jewish high school, Stratford College. The school opened in September 1952 in Rathgar. It started with a small group of children from a Jewish elementary school.

Elaine Feldman was very involved with the school. She served on the board of governors as the honorary secretary for 17 years. She helped manage everything about the school. She also talked to government officials and politicians to get support.

Growing the School

As the school grew, Elaine helped buy a bigger building in 1954. She agreed to pay for it even before all the money was ready. She worked with a bank manager who helped get the loan needed to equip the school. Besides Jewish children, students of other faiths also attended Stratford College.

Elaine also helped many Jewish children whose parents could not afford tuition. She found support for scholarships that covered school fees, uniforms, and books. The school later created an award in her honor for students who showed great writing skills. Elaine also worked to make Hebrew a recognized subject for the Leaving Certificate exam.

Community Work and Later Life

From around 1970, Elaine Feldman gave talks about Jewish beliefs to Christian groups. These talks happened at the Adelaide Road Synagogue. Jewish community leaders and rabbis from Britain sometimes attended these talks.

Promoting Understanding and Girl Guides

Elaine was chosen to be a founding member of the Irish Council of Christians and Jews. This group works to build understanding between different religions. She also gave talks to Dublin schoolchildren about getting along with people of different faiths.

Elaine volunteered for many years at the headquarters of the Irish Girl Guides. She managed the guide shop, helping it become a successful business. For a time, she was a district commissioner. She stayed active in the Girl Guides even after officially retiring. She was one of the oldest women involved in the Girl Guides worldwide.

Personal Life and Passing

Elaine Feldman had a chronic illness throughout her life. However, she was an active golfer. She was also the life lady president of the Jewish golf club at Edmondstown.

Elaine Feldman passed away on October 19, 2006, at her home in Rathgar.